walking to school

It's a 30 minute walk from here to local secondary, my kids walk unless the weather is really bad. It's a huge school so lots of other kids walking long distances too. I think any longer than that can be very tiring with heavy bags, pe kits, cooking equipment etc.

Although high school kids are CAPABLE of walking a couple of miles carrying school bags in peeing rain, snow etc, I personally wouldn't want to DO it. It's pretty miserable.

Mine walk 1.8 miles semi rural so not all on lit paths.
I think this is fine and they are fit and healthy.
My eldest has disabilities that mean he gets tired quicker he used to catch the bus instead to make school doable he wouldn't have managed to walk to.
So I'd say fit and healthy 3 miles. Disabled case by case approach.

Another panelist here; I think sometimes parents look at their then-10-year old and fail to appreciate that pretty soon that primary kid will be a puberty hitting secondary schooler, and can't/don't want to face the facts that the child is more than capable!

Assuming the route is safe, I would say a walk of 45mins is fine, so I guess a couple of miles. DD does a little less than that, DS would be that but he cycles, and both have done that from day one Yr 7.

DD does manage to cadge a lift in terrible weather quite often though ;-)

I do think you have to take into account how much they carry to school, TBH. My DS walks only about 10 minutes, 15 if he dawdles but I ended up buying him an ergonomic backpack as he was struggling with a standard sports one.

Although many of their classmates catch the busses for journeys of a mle or less, so I guess their parents consider it too far to walk.

I think it depends on the route and the child and the day. One of mine struggles to walk the two miles to school each day, I guess due to her disability she might be entitled to transport but it would be in the form of a bus pass as she can walk to the bus stop and back, however by the time she boards the bus it would probably be full of people travelling much further to school so either she would have to stand or go through the social suicide of asking for an accessible seat.

When she only had a mile to walk she probably achieved it 60% of the time, at 2 miles it is more like 20%. A different child (though same condition but different impact) manages a slightly shorter distance about 95% of the time. I manage my work around her to facilitate her attending the right school for her needs.

I guess that is why they are seeking an individual, independent assessment of their needs. I think that a child with no additional conditions should easily manage 2 miles, possibly three on a fairly accessible route.

Wow a pp says a mile! That's a 15-minute walk! We live very near school, but I am pretty sure all the kids in our suburb walk to the school, and some of will have nearer a 30-min walk, totally fine.

I know someone whose DC got a place at a nearby and very well rated school, which he would have to get the bus to - abd the bus stop was a good 30 min walk! I would draw the line at that tbh, ie 30 mins to bus, wait for bus, 10 mins on bus, short walk at other end, mainly because if the variables re bus that could mean your daily journey was an hour.

But a single walk of 30-45 mins, no worries. Ds2 has a mate who often walks home cos the bus us so full, it must be a good 2.5 miles.

Depends on the available routes and the type of roads/footpaths available.

A mile tops, assuming there is no crossing busy roads and other traffic hazards.

DS1s school is 2.8 miles away. He cycles.

Max half an hours walk personally

I think 3 miles should be the absolute max.

Not only do they have to carry loads of heavy stuff, but they also have to do homework (mine is doing 2 hrs every day at the moment).
And it also depends on the route - dark, uneven lanes versus well lit suburban streets?

The government guidance is 3 miles and I think that's reasonable. It should take less than an hour

I suspect patents who are make the argument simply like a nearer school better and are throwing any argument they can think of at the appeal. If their DC has exceptional reasons which mean they cannot walk for an hour, or there is no safe walking route, then they should be eligible for free transport, but that should be taken up with the LEA nit brought to appeal